The Animals’ Freedom Fighter

Founded in the 1970s and today active in more than 40 countries, the Animal Liberation Front has in recent years been considered a domestic terrorist group by both the FBI and the Southern Poverty Law Center—despite the ALF’s official stance of nonviolence. A clandestine, phantom cell organization, the ALF has functioned as a sort of Underground Railroad for captive animals, executing raids and attacks on animal testing facilities. Yet little has been written about the group or its founder. With unprecedented access by the author, this book tells the story of Ronnie Lee, the unassuming British activist who launched an extremist movement that continues to use intimidation and economic sabotage to advance its cause.

Jon Hochschartner lives in Granby, Connecticut.

Jon Hochschartner

Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 216
Bibliographic Info: 32 photos, appendices, index
Copyright Date: 2017
pISBN: 978-1-4766-6818-5
eISBN: 978-1-4766-2746-5
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments vi

Preface 1

1. Family History and Early Years 3

2. Roebuck Primary School 11

3. Saint Michael’s College 25

4. Vegetarianism and Working Life 36

5. Veganism and the Hunt Saboteurs Association 46

6. Band of Mercy 57

7. First Prison Sentence 69

8. Animal Liberation Front 80

9. Second Prison Sentence 92

10. Continued Involvement 101

11. Kym and Total Attack 111

12. Press Officer 122

13. Third Prison Sentence 133

14. Louise 144

15. Greyhound Action 154

16. Vegan Outreach and the Green Party 166

Appendix One. A Greenprint for Animal Liberation, by Ronnie Lee 181

Appendix Two. Animal Liberation: An End to Isolationism! by Ronnie Lee 188

Appendix Three. Putting an End to Animal Exploitation, Interview with Ronnie Lee 192

Index 205

“Fascinating and informative…very highly recommended”—Midwest Book Review.